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Good Morning! Over the years I have found that: The trouble with common sense is, it ain’t so common anymore.

It’s a damp, cloudy morning here in Northern Ontario, but I can’t say I’m complaining. The weatherman did have folks bracing for the worst, but all that fuss didn’t amount to much. Oh we did have a bit of snow, but it was barely worth a mention.

Weather for us today:

Well, she’s shaping up to be a damp and chilly one here in Port Loring, with a mix of snow and rain this morning, but not much to fuss over. This afternoon looks to stay cloudy, with a high around 36°F (2°C). That said, if we’re lucky, we might just get a sneak peek of sunshine… no promises though.

Tonight, temperatures take a nosedive down to 12°F (-11°C), so it might be a good idea to keep that extra blanket on your bed.

Tomorrow, the sun plans to peek out, but don’t expect much warmth. Highs will only reach 31°F (-1°C), with a low of 18°F (-8°C).

And for those who prefer Celsius, well, I’ll keep tossing in the numbers… but I still say Fahrenheit makes more sense. When it’s 32°F, you know things are freezing—plain and simple. 0°C? Sounds like someone just ran out of numbers. And let’s be honest, Celsius has a way of making things sound worse than they are. -10°C? -20°C?

Highway 522’s wet but bare this morning, so traveling shouldn’t be too bad, just keep an eye out, reason being if the wind switches to the north, we might see some slippery spots popping up here and there. Best to take it easy if you’re heading out; don’t need anyone ending up in the ditch. Stay safe, folks!

On another note, yesterday I wrapped up another project for my lovely wife and then got busy cutting out four rustic birdhouses. Took most of the day, and by the time I was done, I was ready to hang up a sign that said “closed for business.” But a productive day is a good day as it keeps the hands busy and the mind sharp. And as as any seasoned woodworker will tell you, it’s not just about the finished project. It’s about the sawdust in your hair, the ache in your back, and the satisfaction of knowing you built something with your own two hands…even if it takes you longer than it used to.

So what’s on the agenda today, GW?

Well, first off, I’ll be bringing in some more firewood for the stove, then probably clean up the shop a bit. It’s a bit of a mess right now with shavings all over, and dust piling up like it’s settling in for the long haul. But a messy shop? That’s a sign of work being done, in my book.

I see these fancy, spotless shops with all that shiny new equipment, and I can’t help but wonder if they’re actually making anything in there. I guess it’s nice to look at, but my old tools do the job, just as well as any of that high-tech stuff. And as far as I’m concerned, a shop without a little sawdust or shavings on the floor just ain’t a woodworking shop.

Once I get things cleaned up, I’ll get to putting those birdhouses together that I cut out yesterday. Maybe I could teach the birds how to put ‘em together themselves—seems like IKEA’s got people fooled, paying top dollar for stuff they have to assemble themselves. Nah, I’ll stick to the way I’ve always done it, as a project’s not finished ‘til it’s finished.

With that, I’m off for my morning breakfast that my lovely wife has made for me—a nice egg on an English muffin with some melted cheddar cheese over it. Should be mighty tasty and keep me going till lunch.

Until next time—Keep your minds open and your stories alive! GW

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It’s a cloudy morning here in the north. We are also getting some freezing rain thrown in for good measure.

Weather for Port Loring, Ontario

Today (Sunday, March 30)
We’re looking’ at a mix of ice and snow, with accumulation around ¾ to 1½ inches (2-4 cm) before the day’s done. Roads will be slicker than a greased pole, so if you can stay put, that’d be the smart move. High of 37°F (3°C).

Tonight
Freezing rain’s sticking’ around, building up even more ice on everything in sight. Low of 32°F (0°C).

Tomorrow (Monday, March 31)
Not quite as cold, but still plenty of clouds. Rain and a possible thunderstorm in the morning, followed by drizzle later on. High of 43°F (6°C). But by nightfall, the mercury takes a nosedive—Low of 14°F (-10°C).

⚠️ Freezing Rain Warning
A nasty ice storm is setting’ in and expected to last through early Monday morning. Ice build-up could reach between ⅜ to ¾ of an inch (10-20 mm)—that’s enough to snap branches and take down power lines. Winds could gust up to 50 km/h (30 mph), making’ things even worse.

Highway 522’s got a bit of ice here and there, but truth be told, it’s just the beginning. With what’s headed our way, it’s best to stay put and let Mother Nature do her thing. Today’s shaping up to be a messy one, and if you don’t have to be out, you’re better off watching it all unfold from the comfort of home—preferably with a hot coffee in hand.

On another note, yesterday was a full day’s work. Spent most of the morning moving snow, which kept us busy till lunchtime. After a good meal and a bit of rest, I headed back to the woodworking shop and put the finishing touches on my wife’s project. Turned out real nice. I’ll snap a picture of it later on.

So what are you up to today GW?

Well, with today being so wet and icy, I figure it’s a good time to finally get started on a couple of birdhouses I’ve been meaning to make for a while. Haven’t been feeling the best these past few days, so maybe keeping my hands busy will take my mind off things. Might need to take a break here and there—we’ll see how it goes.

It’s downright slippery out there, that’s for sure. Had to throw some salt down just to make it off the porch earlier, and by the looks of it, things are only going to get icier as the day goes on.

So, with that, I’m off to enjoy my breakfast that my lovely wife has made for me. Nothing like a home-cooked meal to start the day off right. After that, I’ll see what the day has in store.

Until next time—keep your minds open and your stories alive! GW

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Well folks, looks like winter’s still got a say in things. Woke up to 23°F (-5°C) this morning, and the day ain’t looking’ much warmer. We’ll see a high around 36°F (2°C), but don’t let that fool ya, them clouds are sticking’ around, and there’s a chance of flurries now and then.

Tonight, temps will drop to about 27°F (-3°C), and come tomorrow, things get real interesting. What we’re looking’ at is a mix of ice and rain, and if it gets bad enough, we could see some power outages along with some mighty slick roads. High though will be around 41°F (5°C), but that won’t mean much, if everything’s coated in ice.

Might be a good day to stay close to the wood-stove and let spring know we’re still waiting.

Highway 522’s got its fair share of snow and a few slick spots this morning, and with what’s rolling in, it ain’t likely to get any better. If it were me, I’d be staying put as there’s always another day to get things done, and no sense getting yourself in trouble, just to run errands that can wait. Best to stoke the fire, pour another cup of coffee, Which is exactly what my wife and I will be doing here shortly.

On another note yesterday, I spent the day working on something special for Ruth’s art studio. She’s been painting since she was young, teaching herself and selling thousands of her paintings over the years. One thing she’s always wanted is a proper place to store her canvases, but they don’t make what she needs.

So… she drew up her own design, and I got all the pieces cut out. Now, I just need to assemble it, but first, we’ll have to clear some snow to get to the shop so I can finish it up. It’s coming along, and I’m looking forward to getting it done for her.

With that I am off for my morning breakfast and will then get to moving some snow, that is if my old body will let it all happen. One has to take things a bit a time these days.

Until the next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive! GW

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Good Morning! My old Dad used to say: “George… if you can’t laugh at yourself, you’re missing half the fun of living.”

It’s a cool morning here in cottage country, but at least the sun is shining, which makes a big difference when starting the day, especially when you’ve been around as long as we have. Add a little light, a little warmth, and maybe a hot coffee, things start looking up.

Weather forecast for Port Loring, Ontario Canada

Today:
A chilly one out there, starting off around 21°F (-6°C) with some wet flurries floating around. By the afternoon, it’ll warm up a little to 39°F (4°C), but don’t put the coat away just yet as rain and snow might still make an appearance. By evening things will cool down to about 32°F (0°C), with those flurries still hanging around.

Tonight:
Skies will start to clear up a bit, but that means the temperature’s going to take a nosedive. You can expect it to drop down to 16°F (-9°C), so if you’ve got a wood-stove, tonight’s a good night to keep it stoked.

Tomorrow:
Well… tomorrow, a mix of sun and clouds will start the day, with temperatures hovering around 32°F (0°C) in the morning. By the afternoon, it won’t be much warmer, with it sitting at 32°F (0°C), and… there’s a slight chance of flurries. As the sun sets, it’ll dip back down to 16°F (-9°C), so best keep that winter coat within reach a little longer.

Highway 522 is clear of snow and ice this morning, which will make for good traveling for those heading to the big city for supplies. That’s exactly what my lovely wife and I did yesterday.

First stop was the garage to get an oil change and have them check our brakes. Pays to keep an eye on those things in this country—what with all the salt and whatever else they’re dumping on the highways these days. Let’s just say it sure has a way of messing things up. The good news? Our brakes are looking pretty good.

While we were there, we had them swap out our snow tires for summer ones. Oh, I know—some folks will say winter isn’t over yet, and they’re probably right. But my wife and I figured, might as well get it done. If we get a bit more snow, well, we’ll just stay put until it’s gone. At this stage in life, we’re not in a rush to go anywhere or do much of anything. That said, a person ought to make the most of a day, as there is no sense sitting around when there’s work to be done. Though, between you and me, I’ve found that if you sit real still with a coffee in hand, folks just assume you’re deep in thought. Seems to work.

It should also be noted that the folks who worked on our car are real nice—treat us with respect, and best of all, they’re honest. As my old dad used to say, “An honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.” Hard to find people like that anymore.

They’re not located in our town, but they’re not too far away, and truth be told, it’s right on our way to the city, which is a nice added bonus. And I’ll tell you, they don’t charge near as much as some places I’ve been to, especially those dealerships. Man, do they know how to empty a pocketbook.

One last thing, if you need work done, they don’t take months to squeeze you in.

After that, we made our way into town to grab what we needed, and then I took my lovely wife out to celebrate our 52nd wedding anniversary. Fifty-two years together—that’s a long time, and when I look around, I’d say it’s a bit of a milestone. In today’s world, a lot of marriages don’t even last a year. But with my wife, it’s been nothing but working together, sharing everything, and always being there for each other, no matter what comes our way. We’ve stuck together through thick and thin, and I reckon that’s the secret to making it last. We’re still going strong, and I wouldn’t trade a minute of it.

With that, I’m off for my breakfast and our hot cocoa, and then we’ll get into our regular morning chat. Since it’s our anniversary, maybe we’ll talk about when we were young and first getting together, reflect on our life together. Hmm, maybe not all of it. We’ve done so much, traveled so many roads, it would take more than one day of chatting to cover everything! In fact, we’d probably need a whole week, and even then, we’d only scratch the surface.

Until next time: Keep your minds open and your stories alive! GW